City police have charged a group of people who allegedly lured men seeking underage sex and beating them – and also arrested those they targeted. Read More
Three teens and a youth whose age is unknown allegedly involved in baseball bat attack and slashing tires of men contacted online
Three teens and a youth whose age is unknown allegedly involved in baseball bat attack and slashing tires of men contacted online
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City police have charged a group of people who allegedly lured men seeking underage sex and beating them – and also arrested those they targeted.
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On March 14, police say they responded to allegations a man had been assaulted by a number of individuals, in an attack they are calling vigilante justice, and later learned he’d met them at an agreed-upon location after communicating on an online dating app.
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“Four individuals emerged from a vehicle, confronting the man, assaulting him with a baseball bat, a replica firearm, and then slashing both the interior of the vehicle and the tires before fleeing,” Calgary police said in a press release Thursday.
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Using CCTV evidence and analytical tools, police say they determined the culprits were responsible for two other assaults.
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“Investigators believe that a group of three men and one youth posed as underage teens on a dating app, attempting to lure men to secluded areas in order to assault them,” say police, who believe there might be more incidents after reviewing cell phone video.
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Charged with four counts each of aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, mischief over $5,000 and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence are Calgarians Reyad Said Abunada, 18, Alexander Roddick, 18 and one youth who can’t be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
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Roddick will next appear in court on Friday, May 9, Abunada on May 23 and the youth on May 2.
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Facing one count each of the same offences is Calgarian Devon William Hickey, 19, of Calgary along with robbery with a firearm and disguise with intent. He’s to appear in court on May 14.
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Three Calgary men who were allegedly attacked facing child luring charges
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Police have also arrested the victims in the alleged assaults, charging Calgarians David Patrick Watkins, 68, Victor Gonzales Villanueva, 38 and Jonathan Rosete, 33 with child luring and invitation to sexual touching. All of them are to appear in court May 28.
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The CPS says their hate crimes unit is also investigating to see whether hate was a motivating factor in the assaults.
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Though police have charged the victims of the assaults, they say vigilante activity is illegal and that suspicions that lead to it should be investigated by law enforcement.
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“We strongly condemn the actions of all individuals involved in these incidents – both the perpetrators of the targeted assaults and those who arranged to meet minors for illicit purposes are in the wrong,” Insp. Keith Hurley said in a statement.
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“Vigilante justice is never the answer and only serves to escalate violence and undermine the rule of law.”
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They’re asking anyone who might have information on these incidents and others to contact them at 403-266-1234, leave tips anonymously at Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, on the app at P3 Tips and at www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
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BKaufmann@postmedia.com
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X: @BillKaufmannjrn
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